Jackie Cruz

Jackie Cruz (born August 8, 1986) is a Dominican–American actress, singer, and former model. She is widely recognized for her role as Marisol 'Flaca' Gonzales on the Netflix original series Orange Is the New Black. Born as Jacqueline Chavez in Queens, New York, on August 8, 1986, Cruz grew up between Los Angeles, California, and Santiago, Dominican Republic. Raised by a single mother, she is fluent in both English and Spanish. Cruz developed a passion for entertainment at a young age after being inspired by Whitney Houston in The Bodyguard. She attended Alexander Hamilton High School in Los Angeles and was a member of the school's music academy. At 16, Cruz became homeless and faced numerous challenges. In her song 'Sweet Sixteen,' she recount her experience of surviving a car accident at 17, which resulted in a collapsed lung, coma, and brain surgery.